For some, memories are brought forth by music, others scent, for me it’s anything visual. I find it fascinating when someone mentions, “Hey that song played during this and that. Remember?” Umm… no, not at all. But with pictures it’s different. I can view just a snippet of a moment in time, and I’m able to recall everything. That day in August we walked around Allan Gardens, then took a streetcar to the Mod Club to see the Weakerthans play. I remember the art work at the Mod Club, but for the life of me I can’t recall what the band sounded like. Brains work in funny ways… That’s why I always mess up Jaws music, but can recall maps with clarity. What are your memories triggered by? And if you tell me that you remember the song that played during your first dance with a boy (or a girl) that you liked, I will get slightly jealous. But I can sure tell you what that boy was wearing.

500px for iPad
October 22nd, 2011Last week in the midsts of the Exposure Show, the guys from 500px released their first official iPad app. It had already made rounds on the interwebs and got some great reviews from places like TechCrunch and GigaOm. It so happened that this week I also got my hands on an iPad, so yaaay! [Don't tell my dad, that I steal his birthday present when he's not looking! ] After upgrading the OS, installing all the games, and other apps that were requested, I snuck the 500px app on there as well. Double points for it being free!
If you haven’t seen it, you SHOULD. That thing is gorgeous! It has all the photo browsing categories as on the website, but the simplicity of the design and focus that it brings to the photos makes you want to flip through them all day long. I’m not even kidding. I must have spent hours just browsing through photos and ♥ them.
The design is so slick it’s ridiculous! Adam, you did an incredible job with it. I love your attention to detail; I even noticed how a dashed arrow changed into a semi-circle one with a fade on its tail. Yes, little things make me happy, and I’m a sucker for smart design. But it’s this attention to detail that separates a good app from a great app. And this is definitely a great app! Ash, I know we haven’t personally met, but you deserve major props for the functionality of the whole thing. I love how large photos fly back into the tiled grid and how smooth the browsing is. You’re definitely making me stay on that couch longer, wasting my time looking at works of others rather than creating more of my own! Tsk tsk tsk!
My wish list includes portfolio section and ability to view all the photos from the same user, but I hear they are working on it already. Always a step ahead. From a business point of view, this app is great for showcasing your work to clients, especially once the portfolio sections will be available. For now, a modified user page can be used to do the same. This app is also a good source of inspiration and keeping in touch with other photographers. Love it!
Well done 500px!
Traditional vs. Conventional
October 20th, 2011I watched in amazement when different herbs started to pile up in front of me, all weighted on a hand scale and equally separated into four neat portions. Out came moss, bark, willow, branches, and different grasses. One-by-one a new drawer was opened to reveal its contents. The table was starting to look more like my garden than anything else, and it smelled amazing! All I asked for was a remedy for active sinuses. I think my sinuses got the ‘over-achieving’ part from my brain, since they are so close to each other… just saying. I’ve been bugged by my nose for years, and when I ask my doctor to send me to ear-nose-throat specialist she just gives me more nasal spray “Use it for a month, if it doesn’t work, I’ll refer you further” Really? Well, thanks… Of course it works, while used, but then everything returns to ‘normal’ once I stop. It also comes with a long list of possible side effects, including stunt growth. Um… no thanks, my nose seems to be better all of a sudden! Being a ‘health-freak’ and all, I decided to give Chinese Herbal Medicine a try. Yes, I realize that when herbs are boiled they release similar chemicals as the ones used in conventional medicine (with possible side effects), but somehow this pile of garden on a table seems a lot more natural than a plastic bottle. What are your thoughts on traditional versus conventional methods? Spray or feet in hot herbal water? I’ll let you know how it goes.
Exposure Show
October 17th, 2011I woke up this morning and started running through the presentations in my head, eyes closed, nose into my pillow, just to realize that it’s already Monday and the Exposure Show was over. Wow, what a whirlwind of a weekend it was! So appreciative for the amazing opportunity to present at the Exposure Show. Was overwhelmed by all the kind feedback. Thank you! Thank you all who attended the show and listened to me speak. Never had I thought that sharing my experiences would have such an effect. Thanks to the organizers of the show for all the hard work that went into making it happen.
I’m in a bit of disbelief that the weekend is actually done. I spent a lot of time anticipating it, not only because of the show, but it was also the end of a very busy season. It was a crazy build up to this mid-October weekend, and now that it’s all done and over with, I can settle back into my regular schedule. Lots of things need catching up on. I feel horribly bad for neglecting some, but there just wasn’t enough hours in a day, and something had to give. On the second day of the show, someone asked if I was still shooting with equipment that was listed on my 500px profile. Damn! I had completely blacked out on updating everything before the presentation. How ironic, especially since one of the talks was on Benefiting from your Failures. I have no idea how I will benefit from this one yet, but lesson learnt: Update all portfolios, photos, and roll out new website BEFORE you do a major presentation! “Head meets Palm” once again. I have a long list of tasks that will have to be done in the near future before the destination wedding season starts. Expect more frequent blog updates, new work, and a new website.
If you’re wondering what I looked like during my presentations, a very nice young lady drew a picture of me on Sunday. It made my heart melt! Also found a photo of myself in The Epoch Times review of the Exposure Show. Thanks Matthew.
Gold Stars
October 11th, 2011
Being an over achiever and all, I love getting my reward stars. The 12-year-old in me craves for recognition of good work… So when I walked into Starbucks last week and saw black and gold “Your drink is on us!” sign, they had me. Like a proper sucker for amazing marketing I went on their website and tried to register a card, except… I didn’t have their card. I mean, I have one, a very pretty one, but I never did put money on it. My commitment issues with pre-paid things run deep. I don’t like gift cards either. The knowledge that I have money on a card that has an expiration date and the pressure to commit to buy something is daunting! But… I love my gold stars! I walked into Starbucks this morning, got my pretty card out, and said: Can I get $25 on it! And just like that, I have committed myself to 12.2 cups of Grande Awake tea. If it wasn’t for their incredibly smart marketing and a talented design team this would have never happened!

Daniela + Nic: Engagement
October 9th, 2011On a warm Saturday afternoon I met up with Daniela and Nic at the waterfront for their engagement photos. The weather was glorious, bright and sunny, which made me cringe cause I knew we’d have to play vampires so no one would sparkle in the sunlight. I swear I didn’t watch the Twilight movies… or read the books… We started on the roof top patio, where immaculately dressed Daniela and Nic eased into being photographed. These two pay attention to every single detail from shoes to accessories, everything has to go well together. And we all know how much I love details and well dressed couples! Nic didn’t have a single wrinkle on his shirt. Now, that’s a man who knows how to use an iron! Daniela… well, she looked just perfect!
Fortune Cookie
September 27th, 2011My morning started with scavenging for breakfast food. So imagine my delight when I saw a fortune cookie on the kitchen counter. Someone left it there, UNATTENDED, for my taking! Not that fortune cookies are breakfast food, or tasty for that matter. It’s the OH EM GEE, what will the fortune say that gets me excited. Drum roll please, cause this definitely requires one! Dun Dun Dun ” Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think.” What? I don’t know how to feel about this one! What happened to “You’ll have a wonderful day, wear your lucky socks” fortune? Now I will feel all dramatic from over thinking it. Thanks fortune cookie! You gave me a sugar rush too…
Wedding Magazines
September 21st, 2011I must confess that I’m very guilty of overlooking Canadian Wedding Magazines, and going straight for the SoCal ones at the book stores. For many years US wedding magazines were the trend setters in business, and it seemed as Canadians were always playing catch up. Nowadays, wedding blogs have a lot more relevant articles and sometimes even deliver the news before it hits the ‘review rooms’ of publication houses, and therefore, levelling the playing field. I was very pleasantly surprised when I flipped through four, yes, FOUR (it was a long tea break), of the latest Canadian wedding magazines. They have outdone themselves with creative suggestions, articles, and vendor lists that are current and most of all relevant to Canadian brides.
Here is the list of Canadian magazines that I flip through on regular basis.
Wedding Planners
September 13th, 2011If you don’t know Jane Dayus-Hinch, then you have never watched the Slice network, and definitely haven’t seen a single episode of Wedding SOS. I can applaud you for doing better things with your life than watching TV! I, on the other hand, am addicted to all things wedding and that show just happens to be on TV during my lunch time. Yes.. juuuust happens, cause I don’t have any other channels than Slice! Nope, not a single one!
So Jane, also known as fairy God-mother, is a wedding planner, and she grants three wishes to desperate, ‘planning-challenged’ couples right before their wedding day. That woman is pure genius, plus she is hilarious in her proper British ways. This past weekend I had a chance to meet her and be a ‘crazed fan’. While taking a photo with her, I squeaked that I loved her show, which I do, and she goes “Well, which episode is your favourite?” …and I didn’t have an answer. Very classy… I probably watched every single one of them, and I couldn’t recall any on the spot. Eh, other than embarrassing myself, I learnt a few new things from her presentation. And here I thought that I was pretty good with weddings. There goes that bubble!
That brings me to a point of how important the wedding planners and coordinators are. They come armed with knowledge, experience, a book of great vendors, and all the tips and tricks that newly engaged couples just don’t have. Even if you plan the whole wedding by yourself, you still need someone on the day to coordinate the event. Last thing that you want on your wedding day is to stress about last minute decor details, think of who is supposed to bring the knife for the cake, or open doors for your grand entrance. Delegating all those tasks to the bridesmaids and relatives is one solution, and hiring a wedding coordinator, so all can enjoy the day, is another. Yes, you would have to pay for their services, but think of all the time you save and worry-free nights full of sleep. But if it’s really not in the budget, try to get a wedding planning book or an app to keep you on track. Enjoy planning your fabulous day, and stay clear of that evil word ‘stress‘.
Being a pro-photographer I only carry an iPhone camera with me. That’s how I roll! ^_^
Moon Festival
September 12th, 2011I love holidays especially when delicious food is involved! Found this box of mooncakes waiting on the kitchen counter and couldn’t help myself. Oh, they are yummy! Today happens to be Mid-Autumn festival, which is a pretty big deal over in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Korea. There is a similar holiday in Japan as well, but on a different date. Being a curious one, I went digging for information on the festival and now I really want to go and experience it.
Mid-Autumn Festival is known for:
- Eating mooncakes – They had me at eating!
- Matchmaking – How cool is that? During dances, young ladies throw their handkerchiefs to the crowd and guys catch them and return them for a chance of romance.
- Lanterns and floats
- Burning incense in reverence to deities
- Fire Dragon Dancers
- Moon rabbit – If you stare long enough at the full moon you’ll see a rabbit that lives there.
Happy Moon Festival 中秋節快樂. Go find yourself some mooncakes.






































